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Cited by 85Religion, Spirituality, and PsychologyDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAging, Health, and Disability

Church Attendance Mediates the Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Functioning Among Older Mexican Americans

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Reyes-Ortiz, C. A., Berges, I. M., Raji, M. A., Koenig, H. G., Kuo, Y.-F., Markides, K. S.·2008·The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
DOI 10.1093/gerona/63.5.480PMC PMC2851403
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine how the effect of depressive symptoms on cognitive function is modified by church attendance. METHODS: We used a sample of 2759 older Mexican Americans. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline, 2, 5, 7, and 11 years of follow-up. Church attendance was dichotomized as frequent attendance (e.g., going to church at least once a month) versus infrequent attendance (e.g., never or several times a year). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; score >or=16 vs <16). General linear mixed models with time-dependent covariates were used to explore cognitive change at follow-up. RESULTS: In unadjusted models, infrequent church attendees had a greater decline in MMSE scores (drop of 0.151 points more each year, standard error [SE] = 0.02, p <.001) compared to frequent church attendees; participants having CES-D scores >or=16 also had greater declines in MMSE scores (drop of 0.132 points more each year, SE = 0.03, p <.001) compared to participants with CES-D score <16 at follow-up. In fully adjusted models, a significant Church attendance x CES-D x Time interaction (p =.001) indicated that, among participants with CES-D scores >or=16, infrequent church attendees had greater decline in MMSE scores (drop of 0.236 points more each year, SE = 0.05, p <.001) compared to frequent church attendees at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Church attendance appears to be beneficial for maintaining cognitive function of older persons. Church attendance moderates the impact of clinically relevant depressive symptoms on subsequent cognitive function.

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  • Physiological changes that occur with stress and depression, particularly elevated blood cortisol, are known to adversely affect the parts of the brain responsible for memory.

    “Physiological changes that occur with stress and depression (elevated blood cortisol, in particular) are known to adversely affect the parts of the brain responsible for memory [419–421].”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [421]

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Authors
Reyes-Ortiz, C. A., Berges, I. M., Raji, M. A., Koenig, H. G., Kuo, Y.-F., & Markides, K. S.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (US)
  • Duke University (US)
  • General Department of Preventive Medicine (VN)
ORCID
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2008-05-01
Volume
63
Issue
5
Pages
480-486
ISSN
  • 1079-5006 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-535X
DOI
10.1093/gerona/63.5.480
PMC
PMC2851403
OpenAlex
W2140735332
Cited by
85
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
FWCI
5.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series A (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5p50ca105631-05)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG 10939, R01AG010939)
  • National Cancer Institute (P50-CA105631)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
Keywords
church attendance, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, cognitive decline, older adults, Mexican Americans, religiosity, mediation, moderation
MeSH terms
Aged, Cognition, Depression, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Mexico, Spirituality

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